January, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goal: 100 books and 1500 hours
YTD: 9 Books Read, 95 Hours Spent
This Month: 9 Books Read, 95 Hours Spent

 

All things considered, January was a good month. We were gone for 18 days, in which not much reading got done; it is always that way when we travel. The two books I tried to read on the road are DNF for now. However, the books I did manage to read while not on the road were rich and varied.

This month, I'm adding new features to the monthly round-up: one sentence reviews and star ratings. I can't seem to get my heart into reviews or even 'taking out the trash', so this will have to do for now.

 

 

Best of the Month: The Revolutionary
Worst of the Month: Coroner's Pidgin (because of the narrator)
Biggest Disappointment: The World of Curiosities, The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man
Sentimental Favorite: The Last Watchman of Old Cairo

 

• A World of Curiosities -- Louise Penny -- NEW1
I'm done with this series; it has jumped the shark. 3 stars

• The Greatest Invention -- Silvia Ferrara -- NEW2
Good, clear descriptions of complicated processes but not dumbed down. 3.5 stars

• The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams -- Stacy Schiff -- NEW3
A different perspective on the seeds of the American Independence. 4.75 stars

• One Two, Buckle My Shoe -- Agatha Christie -- NEW4
Well done but still only 3.5 stars

• The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man -- Paul Newman -- NEW5
Paul in his own words. 3 stars

• The Life of Crime -- Martin Edwards -- NEW6
Not that it is bad but it is really just a glorified list of books discussed by theme. 3.75 stars (DNF until I can come back to it with my full attention).

• Coroner's Pidgin -- Margery Allingham -- NEW7
Killed by Audible narrator. Withholding star count for now (DNF until I can come back to it with my full attention).

• The Last Watchman of Old Cairo -- Michael David Lukas -- NEW8
A fictionalized take on the story of the Cairo Genizah. 3.5 stars

• A Gentleman's Murder -- Christopher Huang -- NEW9
Homage to the Golden Age of Detective Fiction. 3.75 stars.

 

2022 in Review

 

Goal: 100 books and 1500 hours
YTD: 252 Books Read, 2315 Hours Spent -- personal bests
This Month: 22 Books Read, 198 Hours Spent

 

Best Fiction of the Year: Five-Carat Soul by James McBride, The Ballad of Perilous Graves by Alex Jennings, A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Best Non-fiction of the Year: And There was Light by John Meacham, My Remarkable Journey by Katharine Johnson, Taste by Stanley Tucci
Worst of the Year: Who Thought This Was a Good Idea? by Alyssa Mastromonaco, Sex on the Moon by Ben Mezrich
*Biggest Disappointments of the Year: The Bat by Jane Rinehart Roberts, Tragedy at Law by Cyril Hare, The Last Judgement by Iain Pears, Mrs. Polifax and the Whirling Dervish by Dorothy Gilman

 *Disappointing because they are well below the normal standards of the author

 

 

Best of the Month: Five-Carat Soul, And There Was Light,
Worst of the Month: Lost and Found in Paris, Rise of the Rocket Girls
Biggest Surprises of the Month: In-Depth Market Research and The Uncommon Reader

 

What a year! Two-hundred-fifty-two books. I can't believe I read that many.

Of the 252 books devoured, 205 of them were new titles (up from 131 in 2021), for which I must thank my new-in-2021 library card -- and my reading buddies for helping me find new books and series in which to indulge. Yet, at the same time, I must bemoan the loss of the annual re-read of every Dick Francis, Georgette Heyer and Nevil Shute in my Audible library. Now that I have a library card to support my expensive book habit, I don't need to depend so heavily on re-reads to fill the year --even though I do miss them. I discovered a number of new authors and series this year that will keep me reading for at least the next few years.

I read a good share of non-fiction as well, some of it very well worth the time and effort and others that weren't worth the paper they were written on. I enjoyed spending time with Stanley Tucci, Sonia Sotomayor, Katharine Johnson (of Hidden Figures fame) and Ronnie Howard and his brother. Jon Meacham's latest warts and all Lincoln biography was enlightening. I even threw in some math and science for an even mix.

Yes, there were some duds this year but they were few in comparison to the number of really excellent books I had the pleasure to listen to this past year.

Reading-wise 2022 was a very good year and I'm ready to tackle 2023 with gusto!

Here's the list of reads for December, 2022

The Nine Tailors -- Dorothy L. Sayers -- Re-read
And There Was Light -- Jon Meacham -- NEW193
The Fortnight in September -- R.C. Sherriff -- NEW194
Rise of the Rocket Girls -- Nathalia Holt -- NEW195
Sad Cypress -- Agatha Christie -- NEW196
The Uncommon Reader -- Alan Bennett -- NEW197
In the Frame -- Dick Francis -- Re-read
Proof -- Dick Francis -- Re-read
Slay Ride -- Dick Francis -- NEW198
The Phantom Tollbooth -- Norton Juster -- Re-read
Aunty Lee's Delights -- Ovidia Yu -- NEW199
In-Depth Market Research Interviews with Dead People -- Alison Espach -- NEW200
Double Indemnity -- James M. Cain -- Re-read
Sacred Treasures -- R. Mark Glickman -- Re-read
Jimmy the Kid -- Donald Westlake -- Re-read
Mort -- Terry Pratchett -- Re-read
Lost and Found in Paris -- Lian Dolan -- NEW201
The October Man -- Ben Aaronovitch -- NEW202
Five-Carat Soul -- James McBride -- NEW203
For Kicks -- Dick Francis -- NEW204
Youngblood Hawke -- Herman Wouk -- NEW205
Hogfather -- Terry Pratchett -- Re-read

 

Twenty Four Festive Tasks: Game Summary

 

 

Tasks=61 • Books=20 • Bonus=1 • Grand Total=82

Door 1:  Read a book set in the Southern Hemisphere, or that has a beach-y scene on the cover.

Photo Finish by Ngaio Marsh
Melbourne Cup: https://www.secretreadingroom.com/2022/10/30/peregrinations-melbourne-cup/
https://www.secretreadingroom.com/2022/11/08/peregrinations-24-festive-tasks-21/
Points: 5 +Bonus=6

Door 2:   Read a holiday themed book.

https://www.secretreadingroom.com/2022/12/16/peregrinations-door-2-holiday-themed-books/
Points: 2

 Door 3:  Read a book with the sun, or festive lights on the cover, or a book that’s set somewhere sunny.

Klara and the Sun  by Kazuo Ishiguro
https://www.secretreadingroom.com/2022/11/21/door-3-light/
Points: 4

Door 4:  Read a book that has an object that can be used as a Christmas decoration on the cover.

https://www.secretreadingroom.com/2022/12/16/peregrinations-door-4-decorating/
Points: 2

Door 5:   Read a book that has an animal on the cover, or involves someone who works in conservation.

Bonecrack by Dick Francis
https://www.secretreadingroom.com/2022/11/22/peregrinations-door-5-animals/
Points: 3

Door 6:  Read a book with the word “color” or the name of a(ny) color in the title.

A Freeman of Color by Barbara Hambly
https://www.secretreadingroom.com/2022/12/16/peregrinations-door-6-colors/
Points: 3

Door 7:   Read a book with a cover that would make beautiful wrapping paper; or read a book that you would have enjoyed giving or receiving as a gift.

Sad Cypress by Agatha Christie
https://www.secretreadingroom.com/2022/12/17/peregrinations-door-7-gift-giving-wrapping/
Points: 3

Door 8:  Read a book where the plot involves music or the people who perform or write it; or read a non-fiction memoir by a musician.

Agent Josephine by Damian Lewis.
Okay, it is not a memoir but it does tell the story of this beloved performer.
https://www.secretreadingroom.com/2022/12/19/peregrinations-door-8-music/
Points: 5

Door 9:   Read a book that has something lucky on the cover or in the title; or that has a cover that is more than 50% red, yellow and green, which are considered lucky colors in China.

Five-Carat Soul by James McBride
https://www.secretreadingroom.com/2022/12/24/peregrinations-door-9-cycles/
Points: 5

Door 10:  Read a book in which the ending of a conflict is a major theme or which has the word “Peace” in its title.

In the Hurricane's Eye by Nathaniel Philbrick
https://www.secretreadingroom.com/2022/12/25/peregrinations-door-10-peace/
Points: 4

Door 11:  Read a family saga, a book about an especially dysfunctional family, a book that involves big changes for the main character, or a book with a split timeline (one that takes place in the present and one that takes place in the past).

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
https://www.secretreadingroom.com/2022/12/25/peregrinations-door-11-personal-and-family-traditions-cherished-memories/
Points: 3

Door 12:  Read something with snow or ice on the cover or a book set in Scandinavia / Northern Europe, in Alaska, or in Northern Canada.

Slay Ride by Dick Francis
https://www.secretreadingroom.com/2022/12/25/peregrinations-door-12-northern-hemisphere/
Points: 1

Door 13:   Read a book about someone who works retail, or that has a retail establishment on the cover (shop, café etc).

Proof by Dick Francis. The main character runs a small neighborhood wine etc. shop.
https://www.secretreadingroom.com/2022/12/25/peregrinations-door-13-holiday-shopping/

Door 14: Read a book written by an author whose last name begins with the letters G, A, M, E, or S.

First Friends by Gary Ginsberg
https://www.secretreadingroom.com/2022/12/27/peregrinations-door-14-games-2/
Points: 4

Door 15:  Read an epistolary novel, a novel with a 2d person narrative POV (“you”), a collection of nonfiction correspondence, or a novel in which correspondence forms a significant part of the plot.

If on a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino
https://www.secretreadingroom.com/2022/12/27/peregrinations-door-15-correspondence/
Points: 2

Door 16:  Book task: Read A Christmas Carol, or read a book in which poverty or hardship are significant plot elements.

I just read ACC for HB and the alternative sounds too depressing to read.
https://www.secretreadingroom.com/2022/12/28/peregrinations-door-16-charity/
Points: 3

Door 17:  Read a book about food, where the main character is a chef, gourmand, or bartender, brewer or distiller, or which has food on the cover.

Aunty Lee's Delights by Ovidia Yu
https://www.secretreadingroom.com/2022/12/28/peregrinations-door-17-food-drink/
Points: 4

Door 18:  Read a book featuring rituals of any kind (religious, sports, family, club, community, social group, whatever) as part of the plot, or read a story involving pilgrims on a journey of self-discovery or faith, be it personal or religious.

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
https://www.secretreadingroom.com/2022/12/30/peregrinations-door-18-spiritual-practice-or-religious-observance/
Points: 3

Door 19:  Read a fairy tale, or folklore story, or a book based on either; or read an entry into a series that focuses on one specific community.

https://www.secretreadingroom.com/2022/12/30/peregrination-door-19-community-traditions-folklore/
Points: 3

Door 20:  Read a book that involves the main character travelling.

In the Frame by Dick Francis
https://www.secretreadingroom.com/2022/12/30/peregrinations-door-20-travel/
Points: 5

Door 21:  Read a book from the fantasy genre, or one with something on the cover that refers to luck.

Mort by Terry Pratchett
https://www.secretreadingroom.com/2022/12/31/peregrinations-door-21-good-luck-charms-and-traditions/
Points: 4

 
Door 22:  Read a book of science fiction or a novel or nonfiction book related to STEM. 

The Rise of the Rocket Girls by Nathalia Holt
https://www.secretreadingroom.com/2022/12/31/peregrinations-door-22-science-and-secular-holidays/
Points: 3

Door 23:  To celebrate Santa Claus: read a book that qualifies as a comfort read for you. If you want to celebrate Krampus: read a book that is going to scare you! 

Jimmy the Kid by Donald E. Westlake
https://www.secretreadingroom.com/2022/12/31/peregrinations-door-23-iconic-figures/
Points: 3

Door 24: Read Terry Pratchett’s Hogfather or another book in which a fictional holiday (like Hogswatch) plays a central role.

Hogfather by Terry Pratchett
https://www.secretreadingroom.com/2022/12/31/peregrinations-door-24-fictional-literature-based-holidays/
Points: 2